Law is the system of rules and guidelines created by a society to ensure a safe and equitable society. These laws may be enforced by a government institution. They may also be written by private individuals, which is known as common law. The precise definition of law has been a topic of long-standing debate. Some people have described it as a science, others have called it an art of justice.
Some examples of laws are the rules that prevent murder or other serious crimes, the civil rights of citizens, and the right to a fair trial for criminals. Other laws deal with specific types of agreements, relationships or events. These include property laws such as contract law and tort law. Employment law and immigration law are two other types of legal laws.
The law is an important aspect of any society, both in terms of providing a framework to guarantee a safe and prosperous society and in terms of providing consequences for breaking the rules. The law is also the basis for societal morality, which plays a significant role in many societies.
Laws are based on the principle that all humans have equal rights and should be treated fairly. The laws must also be reasonably stable so that people can plan their lives with reasonable confidence that they will know in advance what the legal consequences of various actions will be. For example, a person who breaks the law of speeding will not be punished if he or she can show that they were acting in good faith and did everything possible to avoid breaking the law.
One of the most complex issues in law involves the nature of the relationship between laws and ethics. Some people argue that the law should not be seen as a moral guide because it does not address issues such as the worth of human life or the right to free expression. Other people disagree and believe that the law should embody moral values, but that the principles underlying the law should be able to change over time as society evolves.
The laws of a country are generally established by the governing body, which is either a legislature or an executive branch. The law can also be changed by a court, such as when judges are reappointed to their position or when a panel of judges hears a case en banc (meaning all of the judges of a particular circuit sit together). Private individuals can create legally binding contracts, including arbitration agreements that adopt alternative ways of resolving disputes to standard legal litigation.